Moundridge girls edge Warriors

Tuesday

Mar 5, 2013 at 7:38 AMMar 5, 2013 at 7:38 AM

By Mark Schnabel?Newton Kansan

MOUNDRIDGE — Familiarity between the Moundridge and Berean Academy girls’ basketball teams didn’t breed contempt. It bred offensive struggles for both teams.?The two Heart of America League rivals struggled shooting the entire game, which featured long stretches with neither team scoring. Moundridge got the points it needed late for a 24-22 win in the Class 2A sub-state finals Saturday in Moundridge.?“They sagged on us, and did a good job covering us,” Moundridge coach Kenroy Wilson said. “We never could get going. We started the second half by hitting a couple, and I thought that would get us going, but it didn’t. We were tight, and definitely Berean played good defense. We got some open looks, sometimes too open. We got good looks in transition early, but didn’t hit them.”?“I felt like we did what we needed to do on the defensive end,” Berean coach Kristen Wiebe said. “We just couldn’t hit those free throws at the end. They’re a good shooting team from outside. We had to get out and defend that. I was pleased with our effort. I thought we had it won. We just couldn’t hit some shots at the end.”?Ashley Holler and MacKenzie Suderman each scored seven points for Moundridge. Holler scored all of hers in the second half.?“Ashley gave us a spark as a freshman,” Wilson said. “We ran a set play to her (late in the game). She had the option of passing or taking it. She took it. MacKenzie set a ball screen for her. She got open and took it.”?Xannie Quiring led Berean with 14 points. Only two other Warrior players scored.?“Xannie came to play,” Wilson said. “She’s a gamer. She hit some tough shots.”?Tied 6-6 with 4:38 remaining in the first quarter, neither team scored again until Abby Landis hit two free throws with 6:20 remaining in the second quarter. Moundridge broke its drought with a Tiffany Huxman layup with six minutes remaining in the half.?A Xannie Quiring layup for Berean with 4:18 left in the half was the last score of the half, putting the Warriors up 12-8.?Moundridge was three of 20 from the field in the first half. Moundridge was five of 22.?Moundridge missed its first two shots of the third quarter, setting up a Quiring layup. The Wildcats broke their drought with a MacKenzie Suderman basket with about 4:30 remaining in the period. Ashley Holler followed with a layup. A Huxman trey with inside three minutes in the period gave Moundridge a 17-16 lead. That was the last score of the period.?Landis opened the fourth quarter with a short jumper. Quiring followed with a layup set up by a turnover. Moundridge scored on one of two Cassidy Siemens free throws with 5:14 in regulation. Brooke Holloway followed with a trey.?Landis put Berean back on top with a layup with 2:20 in regulation. Moundridge countered with a Holler layup with 1:09 to play. Each team missed a one-and-bonus chance in the final minute. Quring missed a free throw with inside eight seconds to play.?“We played good defense,” Wilson said. “We had to play defense. You don’t score 24 points and win unless you play good defense.”?Berean Academy ends the season 17-5. The Warriors lose three seniors, including two starters.?“These girls did as well, probably better, than I thought they would do,” Wiebe said. “They executed the game plan exactly to a tee. Hopefully, they’ll be motivated by this. Hopefully, they’ll take this and work hard and come back with a different result next year.”?Moundridge, 20-3, opens state play at 4:45 p.m. Thursday at Bramlage Coliseum in Manhattan against 19-3 Northern Heights.?“It’s our second time in three years,” Wilson said. “It’s going to be tough. We’re young. We’re getting better. You still have to get there. Like (longtime Moundridge boys’ coach) Vance (Unrau) says, survive and advance. I’m not going to worry about winning a state championship. I’m just going to worry about that first game.”